my husband and i are in our late 50's and want to spend 4-5 days at a lake, either near munich OR in the salzkammergut near Salzburg. I use to go with my parents when i was a child (mom was German) to Ammersee, Chiemsee, Tegernsee, Starnbergersee....and then in Austria at the Mondsee and Traunsee. Frankly, i'm getting them all confused. We would like to take walks around the lake, maybe some low-key biking and enjoy a village atmosphere at night. But as I recall, a few of these places were VERY touristy (like Niagra Falls). We love the view of the mountains...don't want the mtns so far away that you feel like your not in the mtns. We would like our room to look out onto the lake and to be able to eat at a restaurant/patio overlooking lake. Any opinions on this?
Posted by
Paradise
6929 posts
Chiemsee has a great location with recreation options. Herrenchiemsee Palace is there. It's just north of the Alps. And since it's mid-way between Munich and Salzburg, it's a great spot for outings to both, and to Berchtesgaden, whether by train (Prien station, Bayern ticket can be used) or car. Chiemsee photo Palace Bayern Ticket
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19234 posts
For lakes in the mountains, look at Schliersee, Kochelsee, and Walchensee.
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10544 posts
I spent a week in Schliersee 3 years ago and it was very enjoyable. We found it a good location for day trips (with a car) and an easy train ride to Munich.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hello jo. I liked the Wolfgang See (lake). It is in the Salzkammergut in Austria, near Salzburg. The lake is surrounded by mountains that have white snow on the peaks. Those mountains look less majestic than parts of the Alps mountains in Switzerland, but the views across that very big lake to the white mountains and white clouds have a dream - like quality. I wished I could have stayed there longer. Go on road 158 from Salzburg to St. Gilgen. An old resort hotel is there, close to the water. (not in the town). German and Austrian people, on vacation, go to that hotel. When I visited there (I was not a guest in the hotel), many years ago, I was informed that the people working in that hotel and its dining room do not talk in the English language. I think the lake is not seen through windows from the hotel rooms and from the hotel's dining room. The hotel is very near the side of the lake where people enjoy water activities, including water skiing with a small boat that has a motor, in the summer months. That lakeside area is not very big. And there were not other buildings near the hotel. I was there a short time after I suffered from hot sun light in Germany. The cool breeze over that lake, Wolfgang See, at Gilgen (near the boat docks) felt very good, and wonderful ! The hotel is near a boat dock. The public can ride in a large boat from there to the charming small town St. Gilgen which has buildings that are 500 years old and an old small church that I liked being in. I recommend being at the town St. Wolfgang in the day time, not at night. And the two towns are connected by a road.
Posted by
OP
raleigh, nc, usa
2 posts
Thanks so much to all of you. great suggestions..now to decide. danke, danke.